SFC Gabi Cha has always been an athlete. From the soccer field to the battlefield, she thrived on teamwork, discipline, and a shared mission. So, when she joined the U.S. Army after high school and became a combat medic, it felt like a natural extension of who she was.
For 17 years, Gabi served with pride and resilience, deploying to Iraq twice and completing missions in Egypt and Kuwait. But in 2006, an IED explosion changed her life forever. After multiple surgeries, she was medically retired and left facing a new kind of challenge: life without the team, uniform, and purpose that had defined her.
“I was trying to figure myself out,” she said. “I wasn’t part of a team anymore. I couldn’t compete. And then on top of that, I was dealing with a medical condition that changed my whole personality and my life.”
Gabi’s story is one of incredible strength, but also vulnerability. She openly shares that after her injury, she felt lost and isolated. The physical pain was one thing. The emotional and psychological weight was another.
Finding Her Way Back Through Peer Support
In her darkest moments, Gabi connected with Hope For The Warriors, and that connection became a turning point.
She formed a powerful bond with Lee Bonar, Hope’s Military Relations Director. Though they had never met in person at first, Gabi found in Lee someone who listened without judgment and offered support without conditions.
“When I was really hitting a dark time, just being able to talk about personal things and just having that trust and bond relationship with him definitely made me open up and realize like, ‘Hey, I’m not alone.’”
Over the years, that relationship has grown into a deep and meaningful friendship. “We’ve gone through highs, lows, and difficult times,” Lee shared. “I know I’m a better person sharing chapters of my life with Gabi, from accomplishments to struggles and tragedies, we’ve learned through every one of them together.”
Rebuilding Through Team HOPE
The camaraderie Gabi craved returned when she joined Team HOPE, Hope For The Warriors’ sports and recreation team that empowers veterans through physical activity and community engagement. She participated in her first event at the Jacksonville Run, where she found herself surrounded by people who genuinely cared. “I’ve never seen so many genuine people who wanted to be there, who wanted to make a difference,” she said. “No man gets left behind, and I’m a firm believer that it honestly takes a village.”
That spirit led her to compete in the Department of Defense Warrior Games and the Invictus Games, proudly wearing “Army” on her back once again. Competing with her fellow service members gave her back a sense of pride, identity, and belonging.
Paying It Forward
For Gabi, the mission now is clear: to be the kind of support for others that Lee and Hope For The Warriors have been for her.
“I hope that, you know, how someone had impacted me during my life at a dark point…I just really want to be able to do the same thing. Because it is dark. And as long as you have hope, as long as you have a spark, that’s what gets it going.”
HOPE Resources for Veterans and Families
Gabi’s story is a powerful reminder that healing happens through connection—and no one has to go through it alone. At Hope For The Warriors, we offer a wide range of peer support services for service members, veterans, and their families:
- Peer Support Programs: One-on-one and group mentorship that connects veterans with others who have walked a similar path.
- Team HOPE: A community for athletes of all abilities that promotes healing through sports, recreation, and camaraderie.
- Military & Family Support: Personalized care coordination, including transition support, wellness programs, and connection to community resources.
- Clinical Health & Wellness: Mental health support through counseling, retreats, and partnerships with organizations like the Cohen Veterans Network.
If you or someone you love is struggling, reach out. Just like Gabi, you may find your team again, and the strength to move forward.
